Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Charter Flights Face Punitive Passenger Taxes in France
Rates applying from March 1 are up to 300% higher than previous passenger taxes
Business aircraft at Paris Le Bourget Airport
Passengers on charter flights departing French airports, such as at Paris Le Bourget, will be subject to high taxes from March 1. © AIN

Business aircraft charter flights from French airports will be subject to a steep increase in passenger taxes from March 1 in a move the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) has warned could threaten operators based in France. Under a budget pushed through last week by new French Prime Minister François Bayrou, charter operators may be obliged to collect taxes ranging from €210 to €2,100 ($2,200) per passenger.

The new "taxe sur les billets d’avions" levy on all commercial flights was first proposed in October 2024. Initially, according to EBAA France’s chairman, Charles Aguettant, it was not clear that there would be a special higher-rate category for business aircraft. To the group’s dismay, the tax rates now about to be imposed represent an increase of up to 300% on earlier rates.

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